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Amazon's strategy to expand into new areas like cloud computing, streaming video and hardware has affected profitability to investors' sometime chagrin. But Q4 results seem to show the company has the reins in hand when it comes to spending big and being profitable.

The company recently announced a DOCSIS 3.1 chipset that will be a critical component of next-generation cable equipment, right after announcing a g.fast chipset for equipment that can accelerate DSL networks to potentially compete with DOCSIS-based networks.

Alcatel-Lucent and Vodafone Spain said they have used the former’s 1830 Photonic Switch to reach aggregate data transport rates up to 400 Gbps on an existing fiber link. The trial demonstrates the ability of an existing optical network to carry data at up to 17.6 Tbps.

What's not yet known is whether this offering will be the same channel as what cable and satellite TV subscribers now get, similar to the services planned by HBO, ESPN, and CBS. It's possible the service will have just supplemental content or archives of past shows when it launches in March.

Analysts estimate the bulk of the proceeds came from AT&T and Verizon, each of which might have spent $15 billion to $20 billion on the auction. It’s possible that both carriers bid around each other since the AWS-3 band plan made it possible for two carriers to land 20 MHz of spectrum.

Time Warner Cable had some positive news to report in what may be its last earnings report before being consumed by Comcast later this year. In the fourth quarter, the nation’s second-largest cable operator reported its best quarterly subscriber numbers in seven years, which included the loss of just 38,000 basic video subscribers, which was less than analysts had projected.

WOW! Business has purchased fiber conduit in Chicago to better serve 38 downtown buildings. The fiber conduit runs along Wacker Drive in the downtown Chicago central business district and will enable WOW! to offer its triple play and cloud computing services in the area.

Multimedia provider Bell Media and CBS inked a long-term content licensing and trademark agreement for Showtime in Canada, which brought the Showtime brand to Canada for the first time. The Showtime programming will be available across Bell Media platforms in English and French, including its new premium TV streaming service, CraveTV, as well as its pay television service, The Movie Network (TMN.)

Charles H. Townes' inspiration for the predecessor of the laser came to him while sitting on a park bench, waiting for a restaurant to open for breakfast. On the tranquil morning of April 26, 1951, Townes scribbled a theory on scrap paper that would lead to the laser, the invention he's known for and which transformed everyday life and led to other scientific discoveries.

Telefónica continues to use Amdocs to upgrade the business support systems (BSS) of its properties in South America. This time it is looking to Amdocs for systems to support the multi-screen experience for quad-play customers of its Vivo operation in Brazil.

AT&T U-verse added a modest 73K video subscribers in Q4. Meanwhile, CEO Randall Stephenson allowed that there might be ways for the FCC to reclassify broadband under Title II without damaging the industry; he just wants to see the plan first before deciding.

Cox Communications has opened up more than 1,200 access points in Phoenix this week for free ahead of this Sunday’s Super Bowl. Cox has also added temporary hot spots in high traffic areas of Phoenix in order to better serve Super Bowl XLIX attendees.

In an effort to expand its geographic reach and business portfolio, CommScope Holding announced this morning that it was buying TE Connectivity’s telecom, enterprise and wireless businesses for about $3 billion in cash. The deal included Switzerland-based TE’s telecommunications, enterprise networks and wireless businesses, which generated $1.9 billion in annual revenue last year.

Google said Tuesday it has selected four metro areas in the Southeast to receive its fiber optic service that can deliver Internet speeds at more than 50 times the national broadband average. The company said it will bring gigabit-speed service to Nashville, Tennessee; Atlanta; and Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte in North Carolina.

If the Internet of Things is going to be a viable business, individuals relying on it must have some expectation that networks will be secure and privacy can be assured. The Federal Trade Commission today issued recommendations that businesses can take to enhance and protect consumers' privacy and security.